DESPITE suffering a high-speed blow-out which punctured their hopes of a class win, Daniel Harper and Les Reger, pictured below, still claimed maximum points in the chase for the Mintex N3 title,

The Mini Sport men looked to have victory sewn up after a storming drive in their Powerzone-backed Vauxhall Astra GSi put them into the Top 20.

But the pair clipped a rock on stage nine, puncturing the front tyre and forcing them to stop and change the rim.

Although the resulting two-and-a-half minute delay dropped them down to fourth in class and 28th overall, Harper and Reger were still able to collect maximum points as the three drivers ahead of them, Steve Quine, Richard Batey and Peter Christian weren't registered for the Mintex series.

"We did what we set out to, but I'm just disappointed we didn't get the victory we deserved," said Harper, who lives in Barley, near Nelson.

"We got the puncture six miles into a 14-mile stage, so there was no alternative but to stop and change it.

"Looking at the results, if we hadn't lost that time, we would have finished 21st and won our class." The Steyr-Puch Manx lived up to its reputation as one of the most fearsome on the rally calendar, with the high-speed tarmac roads favouring the brave - and those with specialist knowledge.

"Some of the stages, particularly Curraghs, are so quick, it's hard for the co-driver to read the pacenotes fast enough," explained Harper.

"On Brandywell for example, we going flat-out in fifth at around 125mph. One mistake on the narrow lanes and you are off. The car's wrecked and you're in hospital."

One driver who did get it wrong was the highly-rated Vince Wetton, who broke his ribs in a 100 mph accident that destroyed his new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5.

Harper and Reger are now just 17 points adrift of Peter Thornton in the chase for the N3 title, with second-placed David Bateson nine points ahead.

Round four is the Kerridge National Rally, based in the Welsh border town of Builth Wells, on June 5.

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